Partition harmed Muslims interests: Sikander Bhakt

2 September 1999Daily Excelsior

KANGAN (KASHMIR): Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and
Union Industries Minister Sikander Bhakt has said
partition of the country in 1947 was a
"blunder" which harmed the interests of Indian
Muslims.

Those very people who
supported the two-nation theory propagated by founder of
Pakistan Ali Mohammad Jinnah and played an active role in
formation of Pakistan are feeling insecure now and are
treated as "Mahajirs" in Pakistan, he said at
an election rally here yesterday.

Bhakt, who is the first
national leader visiting Kashmir for electioneering, said
Maulana Abdul Kalam Azad was opposed to the idea of
dividing the country.

Bhakt, who is on a two-day
tour of Kashmir to canvass for BJP candidates in
Srinagar, Baramulla and Anantnag Lok Sabha
constituencies, alleged the Congress right from 1947
exploited sentiments of Muslims in the country but the
times have changed and Muslims are now closer to BJP
which they once were treating as "untouchable".

He said there were
suspicion and misgivings in the minds of Muslims towards
the BJP which was branded as communal and anti-Muslims,
but the misgivings have been removed and they are coming
forward to support BJP now in every part of the country,
he said.

"All communal clashes
took place during the Congress rule in the country, which
claims to be a secular party", Bhakt said, adding on
the contrary not a single communal clash took place
during BJP rule.

Referring to Prime
Minister A B Vajpayees visit to Lahore, Bhakt said
Vajpayee visited Lahore with an open mind and heart but
"Pakistan stabbed us in the back by intruding into
Kargil sector."

He said people of both
India and Pakistan want to live in peace and they wanted
settlement of all outstanding issues through peaceful
negotiations, but the rulers of that country made a
misadventure in Kargil which led to tension and present
stalemate between the two neighbours. (PTI)